Cleaning tool for aerosol-generating device

Abstract

A tool for cleaning an aerosol-generating device having a heating chamber, the tool includes a tool base, a first elongate member, a second elongate member, and a pivot member. The first elongate member extends from the tool base. The first elongate member includes a first distal end distal from the tool base. The second elongate member extends from the tool base. The second elongate member includes a second distal end distal from the tool base. A slot is defined between the first and second elongate members.

1 . A tool for cleaning an aerosol-generating device having a heating chamber, the tool comprising:
 a tool base; and   a first elongate member extending from the tool base, the first elongate member comprising a first distal end distal from the tool base; and   a second elongate member extending from the tool base, the second elongate member comprising a second distal end distal from the tool base, wherein a slot is defined between the first and second elongate members; and   a pivot member arranged between the tool base and both the first distal end of the first elongate member and the second distal end of the second elongate member, wherein the pivot member is configured to allow pivoting the first elongate member and the second elongate member in a preferred direction transverse to the extension of the first elongate member and wherein the pivot member is configured to limit pivoting the first elongate member and the second elongate member in a non-preferred direction.   
     
     
         2 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the pivot member comprises an elliptical member defining an outer circumference with a channel configured to engage with a rib of the heating chamber to prevent axial rotation of the first elongate member and the second elongate member within the heating chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The tool according to  claim 2 , wherein the elliptical member comprises a disk or a cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises bristles extending from the first elongate member and the second elongate member. 
     
     
         5 . The tool or system according to  claim 4 , wherein the bristles extend from the first elongate member and the second elongate member radially outward. 
     
     
         6 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the first elongate member comprises a first flat surface facing the slot and the second elongate member comprises a second flat surface facing the slot, the first flat surface extending through a first plane and the second flat surface extending through a second plane, wherein the first plane and the second plane are parallel planes and the first flat surface and second flat surface extend parallel to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first elongate member and the second elongate member comprises one or more ridges on a surface facing the slot. 
     
     
         8 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises:
 a cap configured to couple with the aerosol-generating device, wherein the first elongate member and the second elongate member are configured to contact the bottom wall when the cap is coupled with the aerosol-generating device; and   a rod effectively coupling the first elongate member and the second elongate member to the cap to allow the reciprocating movement of the first elongate member and the second elongate member.   
     
     
         9 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool base comprises a cleaning head for cleaning the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device, the cleaning head comprising one or more scraping surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the first distal end and the second distal end are moveable laterally relative to one another to adjust a width of the slot between the first distal end and the second distal end. 
     
     
         11 . The tool or system according to  claim 10 , further comprising one or more bearings configured to engage at least one of the first elongate member and the second elongate member to limit the width of the slot between the first distal end and the second distal end. 
     
     
         12 . The tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a motor coupled to the first elongate member and the second elongate member, the motor configured to provide the reciprocating movement of the first elongate member and the second elongate member. 
     
     
         13 . The tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool further comprises:
 a cleaning station body configured to receive the aerosol-generating device, the cleaning station body mechanically coupled to the first elongate member and the second elongate member to allow the reciprocating movement of the first elongate member and the second elongate member; and   a lever mechanically coupled to the tool base to control the reciprocating movement of the first elongate member and the second elongate member.   
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber and a heating blade with a substantially rectangular cross section extending into the heating chamber from a bottom chamber wall of a heating chamber; and   the tool according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein first elongate member and second elongate member are configured to be received in the heating chamber such that the heating blade is received at least partially in the slot, and at least one of the first distal end of the first elongate member and the second distal end of the second elongate member extend to the bottom chamber wall such that a reciprocating movement of the at least one of the first distal end of the first elongate member and the second distal end of the second elongate member, within the heating chamber, is configured to scrape the bottom chamber wall. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating chamber and a heating blade with a substantially rectangular cross section extending into the heating chamber from a bottom chamber wall of a heating chamber; and   a tool for cleaning the aerosol-generating device, the tool comprising:
 a tool base; and 
 a first elongate member extending from the tool base, the first elongate member comprising a first distal end distal from the tool base; and 
 a second elongate member extending from the tool base, the second elongate member comprising a second distal end distal from the tool base, 
 wherein a slot is defined between the first elongate member and the second elongate member, 
 wherein first elongate member and second elongate member are configured to be received in the heating chamber such that the heating blade is received at least partially in the slot, and at least one of the first distal end of the first elongate member and the second distal end of the second elongate member extend to the bottom chamber wall such that a reciprocating movement of the at least one of the first distal end of the first elongate member and the second distal end of the second elongate member, within the heating chamber, is configured to scrape the bottom chamber wall. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the tool further comprises a pivot member arranged between the base and both the first distal end of the first elongate member and the second distal end of the second elongate member, wherein the pivot member is configured to allow pivoting the first elongate member and the second elongate member in a preferred direction transverse to the extension of the first elongate member and wherein the pivot member is configured to limit pivoting the first elongate member and the second elongate member in a non-preferred direction.